Skinning knife

Abstract

A combination game knife having a handle and a blade portion having a tip, a top back edge and a bottom front edge and a rear portion opposite the tip, the blade portion having up to five cutting surfaces. A unique feature is a small gut hook positioned below the forefinger aperture in the rear of the blade portion and above the handle and opening toward the user. Other cutting surfaces are the back cutting edge, a top back large gut hook, a front bottom cutting edge, a front serrated edge to the rear of the front cutting edge, and a bottom edge small gut hook to the rear of the serrated edge and in the vicinity of the handle. A forefinger aperture is spaced toward the back edge from the small gut hook near the handle.

We claim:  
     
       1. A combination knife for skinning and eviscerating game comprising: 
       a handle; and  
       a steel blade having a tip portion, a main body portion having a back top edge and a front bottom edge, and a handle insert portion, the handle insert portion being attached to the handle, and the following configuration of the knife beginning from the tip portion: a sharp point, a first cutting front bottom edge extending from the sharp point, a second cutting back top edge extending from the sharp point; a first large gut hook adjacent the second cutting back top edge; a triangular aperture adjacent the first large gut hook; a sharp serrated edge adjacent the first cutting front bottom edge; a second small gut hook adjacent the serrated edge; and a circular aperture adjacent the triangular aperture and the second gut hook;  
       whereby the second smaller gut hook can be utilized without reversing one's grip on the handle.  
     
     
       2. The combination skinning and eviscerating knife according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle has a front bottom edge and an end opposite the blade, the handle having a three-finger configuration defined on the front bottom edge and further comprising a looped cord attached to the end of the handle. 
     
     
       3. The combination skinning and eviscerating knife according to  claim 1 , further including an inclined straight back top edge bordering one side of and parallel to the triangular aperture forming an extension from the adjacent first large gut hook. 
     
     
       4. The combination skinning and eviscerating knife according to  claim 1 , the first and second gut hooks each have sharp beveled inner regions. 
     
     
       5. A combination knife for skinning and eviscerating game comprising: 
       a steel blade having;  
       a tip portion;  
       a main body portion having:  
       a top back edge;  
       a bottom front edge;  
       a rear portion; and  
       a handle insert portion;  
       said steel blade having the following configuration beginning at said tip portion:  
       a sharp point,  
       a first sharp cutting bottom front edge extending from said sharp point along said main body portion,  
       a second cutting back top edge extending from said sharp point along said main body portion,  
       a first large cutting gut hook adjacent said second cutting back top edge and opening toward said rear portion,  
       a second small cutting gut hook to the rear of said first cutting front bottom edge opening to the rear; and  
       a handle located on said handle insert portion;  
       said second small cutting gut hook being located substantially below said handle;  
       whereby said second smaller gut hook can be utilized without reversing one's grip on said handle.  
     
     
       6. The combination knife according to  claim 5 , said main body portion defining a generally circular forefinger aperture adjacent said first cutting bottom front edge, spaced above said second smaller gut hook, and in the vicinity of said handle. 
     
     
       7. The combination knife according to  claim 6 , said main body further comprising a sharp serrated edge extending between said first cutting bottom front edge and said second smaller gut hook. 
     
     
       8. The combination knife according to  claim 6 , wherein said second cutting back top edge is a beveled sharp edge. 
     
     
       9. The combination knife according to  claim 6 , wherein said second cutting back top edge is a beveled dull edge. 
     
     
       10. The combination knife according to  claim 6 , said main body defining a triangular aperture to the rear of said first large gut hook. 
     
     
       11. The combination knife according to  claim 5 , said handle having a three-finger configuration on a front bottom edge. 
     
     
       12. The combination knife of  claim 10 , said main body further comprising an inclined straight back top edge bordering one side of and parallel to said triangular aperture as an extension from the rear of said adjacent first large gut hook. 
     
     
       13. The combination knife of  claim 7 , wherein each of said first and said second gut hooks comprise sharp beveled inner regions. 
     
     
       14. The combination knife of  claim 13 , wherein said first gut hook ends in a dull point above said back top edge and said second gut hook ends in a sharp point to the rear of said serrated edge. 
     
     
       15. The combination knife of  claim 7 , wherein said serrated edge comprises a series of larger cutting serrations, each separated by two smaller cutting serrations. 
     
     
       16. The combination knife of  claim 5 , wherein said steel blade tip portion and said main body portion have a combined length of about 4 inches in length. 
     
     
       17. The combination knife of  claim 16 , wherein said first cutting bottom front edge is about 2 ¼ inches in length and said second cutting back top edge is about is about 1 {fraction (13/16)} inches in length. 
     
     
       18. The combination knife of  claim 17 , wherein said serrated edge is about 1 {fraction (9/16)} inches in length. 
     
     
       19. The combination knife of  claim 5 , wherein said first large gut hook is about ¾ inches deep, and having a width of about ⅜ inches, and wherein said second small gut hook is about ¾ inches deep, and having a maximum width of about ½ inch narrowing to about ¼ inch in width. 
     
     
       20. The combination knife of  claim 6 , wherein said forefinger aperture is about {fraction (15/16)} inches in diameter.